LOCALIZE Festival 2026 — “The Power of Love"

LOCALIZE e.V. — Cultural work beyond the mainstream

Since 2008, LOCALIZE e.V. has been one of the most important independent cultural organizations in Potsdam. The association regularly uses disused, repurposed, or undefined urban spaces — vacant commercial properties, former industrial sites, temporary structures — transforming them into temporary venues for art and encounters. This work positions LOCALIZE as a critical counterpoint to Potsdam's high-culture scene centered around Sanssouci, the Hans Otto Theater, and the Film University — a deliberately accessible, often politically positioned cultural program.

The former State Parliament — Over 100 years of Brandenburg power history

The venue for 2026 is the former State Parliament (Landtag) at Am Havelblick 4 on Brauhausberg in Potsdam — an architecturally striking building with a rich history: initially built as a military site, later the seat of the SED district leadership, after reunification the first seat of the Brandenburg State Parliament (until its move to the rebuilt City Palace in 2014), temporarily a shelter for refugees, currently exposed to decay and designated for future development as an “Open Campus.” This multi-layered nature makes the location the perfect stage for LOCALIZE's 2026 theme.

“The Power of Love” — Love as political practice

The festival theme “The Power of Love” shifts the concept of love from the private to the political: love as a practice of equal coexistence, solidarity, and grassroots urban development. The festival question is: How does a place of separation (political control, hierarchy, exercise of power) become a place of encounter? How can individuals understand “power” as authority over their own actions — rather than as domination over others? Artistic positions and discussion formats explore these questions.

Festival Day July 11 — 12 PM to 11 PM

The festival takes place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 12 PM to 11 PM. Over eleven hours, art installations, performances, concerts, discussion panels, films, and participatory actions will be spread throughout the building and the surrounding area. Admission is based on concept (often free or with a solidarity price). A special opportunity to enter a building that is otherwise closed — and to experience a festival that shows a different side of Potsdam than the Sanssouci tourist trails.